[03/21/06 - 12:00 AM]NBC Primetime Results for the Week of March 13-19

[via press release from NBC]

NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 13-19

BURBANK, Calif. -- March 21, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 3.1 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall for the week of March 13-19, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

* On Monday, "Deal or No Deal" set new series records in both adults 18-49 (5.3/14) and total viewers (15.5 million), delivering NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming in 22 months and the highest total viewership in the slot with regular programming in more than two years. "Deal or No Deal, " which has grown steadily in each of its three consecutive Monday telecasts, was up 77 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Deal" non-sports season average for the time period.

* "Deal or No Deal" on Monday won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures against CBS' comedies, including the debut of "The New Adventures of Old Christine," ABC's "Wife Swap" and Fox's "Prison Break" encore. For the week, Monday's "Deal or No Deal" ranked #10 in 18-49 and #9 in viewers out of a total 118 programs on the six broadcast networks.

* NBC ranked #1 on Friday in adults 18-49 (tied with CBS) and #1 in total viewers. This was NBC's ninth #1 finish on Friday this season in 18-49 (including ties) and its fifth Friday win in total viewers. "Deal or No Deal" at 8 ranked #1 in 18-49, total viewers and most key measures; "Las Vegas" at 9 was the #1 non-sports choice in its hour in 18-49, total viewers and other categories; and "Conviction" at 10 was the #1 non-sports telecast in all key ratings measures and ranked #1 overall in all adult-female demos.

* All three shows on NBC's new Friday line-up posted solid increases versus the prior week. In adults 18-49, "Deal or No Deal" was up 12 percent versus a week earlier, "Las Vegas" was up 10 percent and "Conviction" was up 20 percent.

* On Thursday, "Will & Grace" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since its live telecast on Jan. 12, ranking #2 for the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in all key female demos.

* Also on Thursday, "ER" dominated its time period, ranking #1 in adults 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. "ER" topped the ABC-CBS competition combined in all key adult female demos. "ER" ranked #7 this week (out of 118 programs on the six broadcast networks) in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

* On Tuesday, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outperforming first-run competition from CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Boston Legal."

* On Sunday, "Dateline NBC" reported its highest 18-49 and total viewer numbers in its regular Sunday time period since January 2005 and "The West Wing" polled its highest 18-49 results since that series' live debate episode on Nov. 6.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

On Monday, March 13, from 8-9:02 p.m., ET "Deal or No Deal" (5.3 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 15.5 million viewers overall) set new series highs in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" won the hour by all key ratings measures, outperforming CBS' original comedies, including the premiere of "The New Adventures of Old Christine," ABC's first-run "Wife Swap" and an encore telecast of Fox's "Prison Break."

"Deal or No Deal" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot with regular programming in 22 months (since May 3, 2004) and highest total viewership with regular programming in more than two years (since Feb. 16, 2004). "Deal" was up 77 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's pre-"Deal" non-sports season average for the time period. From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal or No Deal" grew by 21 percent in 18-49 (to a 5.7/14 from a 4.7/13) and in total viewership by 2.6 million viewers (to 16.7 million from 14.1 million).

"Deal or No Deal" has exhibited steady grown over its three Monday telecasts since Feb. 27. In adult 18-49 rating, the "Deal" track has been 4.5, 4.9, 5.3 -- an increase of 18 percent since week one. In total viewers, "Deal" has grown from 13.4 million on Feb. 27, to 14.7 million on March 6 to 15.5 million on March 13.

Monday from 9:02-10 p.m. ET, week three of "The Apprentice 5" averaged a 3.9/9 in 18-49 and 9.6 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (3.9/10 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Tuesday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" averaged a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall and at 9:30 p.m. an encore "Scrubs" delivered a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall, retaining 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from the "Scrubs" original. "Scrubs" dropped just one tenth of an 18-49 rating point versus the prior week, despite facing head-to-head competition this week from "American Idol," and improved the hour by 13 percent versus the same night last year, when there was no "Idol" competition in the time period (2.7 vs. 2.4 last year with a "Scrubs" encore and "Committed").

At 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) was #1 in the hour in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outperforming original episodes of CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Boston Legal."

On Wednesday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition: (2.3/6 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) was up 53 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week, when it faced competition from "American Idol" (2.3 vs. 1.5).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" averaged a 2.1/5 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewer. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order (3.0/8 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) was #2 in adults 18-49 (outperforming a first-run telecast of ABC's "Invasion") and #1 among adults 18-34.

On Thursday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET, "Will & Grace" (3.6/11 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since its live telecast on Jan. 12. "Will & Grace" ranked #2 for the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. At 8:30 p.m. "Four Kings" averaged a 2.9/8 in 18-49 and 6.8 million viewers overall.

Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (4.5/12 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 55 percent in 18-49.

At 9:30 p.m. "The Office" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) retained 93 percent of its "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-49, its second-highest retention of "Earl" to-date. Since moving to Thursdays on Jan. 5, "The Office" has averaged a 90 percent retention of "Earl" versus 71 percent earlier this season when the two comedies aired on Tuesday.

At 10 p.m. ET, "ER" (5.8/15 in 18-49 and 14.0 million viewers overall) dominated the time period in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "ER" topped the ABC-CBS competition combined in all key adult-female demographics.

On Friday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.8/12 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) was #1 for the time slot in adults 18-49. Versus the prior week, "Deal" grew by 12 percent in 18-49 rating (3.8/12 vs. 3.4/11) and by almost 2 million total viewers (12.2 million from 10.3 million). "Deal" was up 73 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's pre-"Deal" season average for the time period (3.8 vs. 2.2).

At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (3.3/10 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) was up 10 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week (3.3/10 vs. 3.0/9) to rank as the #1 non-sports choice in the hour among adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Las Vegas" was up 27 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports season average for the time period prior to "Las Vegas" (3.3 vs. 2.6).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Conviction" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) was up 20 percent versus the prior week in 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 2.5/7) and was up by 18 percent in total viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.7 million). "Conviction" was the #1 non-sports telecast for the time period in all key ratings categories and ranked #1 versus all competition in all key adult female demographics.

On Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m. ET, part one of "Saturday Night's Main Event" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) was up 14 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's regular program season average for the time period. At 9 p.m. part two of "Saturday Night's Main Event" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) was up 18 percent versus NBC's regular program average for the time period. Part two of "Main Event" improved on NBC's non-sports 18-49 average for the time period this season by 18 percent (2.0 vs. 1.7).

On Sunday, March 19, from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) reported its highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership in this hour since Jan. 23, 2005.

Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, "The West Wing" (2.2/5 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since its live debate episode on Nov. 6, and its largest total viewership since Dec. 11. At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.3/7 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 50 percent in adults 18-49 and by 3.3 million total viewers. At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 2.8/7 in 18-49 and 10.2 million viewers overall.